About that Fleece Life....

The story of Gideon is one that many of us are familiar with. Gideon was a guy who didn’t consider himself to be that significant. His clan was apparently the weakest in his home town, and he was the least significant within his family. When he was approached by an angel who called him a “Mighty man of valour” and proceeded to prophesy God’s will over his life, Gideon could not believe that God was really expecting so much of him. While the people of Israel were pleading with God for a deliverer to be sent to them, God sent word through His angel that Gideon himself was indeed the deliverer through which the people would find relief.

Gideon couldn’t wrap his mind around the magnitude of what God had revealed to him through this prophetic declaration, so he asked God for a sign to confirm that all that the angel had said was indeed true. Actually, he asked for the sign TWICE. It was the sign of the fleece. The first time, he placed a fleece outside and asked God to let the fleece be wet with dew while the ground remained bone dry. The next day he found the fleece soaked with water (he actually was able to squeeze a bowlful of water out of it, while the ground remained dry). Amazed but not yet assured, he asked God to repeat the sign, but in reverse. The following day, the fleece remained as dry as dust, while the ground was soaked with dew.

(Read Judges 6)

The Lord spoke some words over my life three years ago and I’ve seen some of it come to pass, but I am still stepping into the fullness of it as time progresses. The declarations that He made are so lofty and thrilling that sometimes I find it hard to wrap my finite, self- deprecating thoughts around it! How can One so majestic have such a purpose for me? Along the way, I’ve often wanted reassurance, but unlike Gideon, I have not explicitly ASKED for a sign, even though in my heart I always desired it. Interestingly though, God has found several ways to reaffirm, and confirm Himself to me on several occasions.

I truly believe that God speaks to each of us in ways that He knows we will understand. He really is a loving Father who tailors His approach to each of His children, nurturing each of us to our fullest potential in Him. I have decided to recount some of the ways that He has confirmed His word to me because I feel strongly that some of us have to be reminded that God IS STILL SPEAKING in our lives, and that we need to be more observant, and to repent for thinking that God has forgotten about us.

1.PROPHECY:

God blew my mind in 2013 when I received my first, specific, personal prophetic word. I always believed in prophetic words for individuals but I was sceptical of its application since it was not heavily practiced at my local church. Everything that the prophet said to me resonated with me that day and God followed it up with another prophecy in 2014 and others in 2015 and 2016, all by separate prophets who had never met me or known me. Each prophet expounded and unpacked the same vision of my life to me from different angles, answering questions and giving details that I had been praying about at the various stages. It was God’s way of giving me clear instructions.

2.HIS WORD:

The Lord continues to this day to send me scriptures that specifically target my points of discouragement or need when I begin to doubt what He said to me. Each time I get to a place where I am ready to throw in the towel, a scripture in season comes to remind me of my sure and expected end, and to remind me that God believes in my future a lot more than I do.

3.TIMELY MENTORS:

God continues to bring relationships into my life with people who I never would have thought to befriend or to get to know more closely. He always amazes me by revealing certain aspects of people (who have gone unnoticed within my circles) at just the right time that the revelation is needed. There are people that I have had on the periphery of my life for many years, and then, just as I was ready for the input, the Lord orchestrated a mutually beneficial relationship between us that would propel us both to the next level. I even have to mention social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Youtube have exposed me to people who I would never have had access to in times past. Due to these platforms I have mentors from all over the globe.

4.MIRACLES:

Every so often, something so wacky and unbelievable that it HAD to be GOD takes place, specifically highlighting the path on which I must walk to get to the purpose that God has designated for my life. Today was one such miraculous day. I went to a routine career fair hoping to impart my career experience to high school kids. Instead, what God gave me was clear instructions on how to proceed with what He has shown me through the stories of the other presenters. At the end of it all I was blown away because I never thought God would have used this forum to address my needs.

Today’s prayer:

Lord, I repent for being such a stubborn, ungrateful spoiled brat. I repent for being blind to all the neon-coloured love notes you stick along my path every day, reminding me that You love me and have a plan for me. I am so sorry for comparing my story with other people’s and for not being content with my portion, Oh Lord. Please accept my gratitude in retrospect. I thank You for always thinking of me. Thank You for crafting my story and for being kind and thoughtful enough to place so many fleeces before me so that I would be reassured as I step out in faith. Thank You for the path that I walk and for experiences that you have laid out for me to have. I look forward with anticipation, not only for the destination IN YOU, but also for the journey WITH YOU.